Explosive-engine.



No. 873,808 PATENTED DEG. 1'7, 1907.

L. E. THOMPSON.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.12, 1907.

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,No. 873,808- I PATENTED DEC. 1?, 1907. L. E. THOMPSON.

EXPLOSIVE' ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1907.

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LLOYD E. THOMPSON, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 12.1907. Serial No. 357.095:

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, LLOYD E. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Kalb, in'the-county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Explosive-Engines and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings,\and to the letters and figures of re erence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to explosive engines, and relates more particularly to that class thereof wherein the successive charges of gas which are introduced into the engine for combustion are formed of a mixture of air and hydro-carbons.

In the operation of ex losive engines a speed is frequently attaine which renders it necessary for the operating mechanism to be run idle for one or more movements thereof, and until the speed is sufiiciently reduced. This has been accomplished by temporarily holding the exhaust valve open, so that no new charge of gas will be drawn into the explosion chamber. In engines which use a mixture of air and gasolene, or other fluid, to produce the charge, there is danger of a small quantity of the gasolene finding-its way into the explosion chamber while the explosive mechanism is idle, and when the next charge of gas is drawn into such chamber, there is an over-supply of the gasolene, resulting in an imperfect combustion, and waste of the oil, whlch is forced out through the exhaust chamber with the exploded charge.

The chief purpose of my invention is to positively close the gasolene outlet, simultaneously with the operation of the mechanism which causes the interruptions of the explosions of gas, and re-open the same when the explosions are resumed. By this means,

no gasolene is permitted to leave the supplychamber while the operative'parts are idle,

and the next succeeding charge of gas is made up of the proper proportions of the air In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side eleva through the carbureter 1 1, as on the line m.r of Fig. 2.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

1 represents the cylinder of the engine, and 2 the casing inclosing the explosion and exhaust chambers.

3 is the base of the engine, on which is supported-the main shaft 4, provided on one of its ends with a balance wheel 5.

Referring to Fig. 2, 6 is the explosion chamber, provided with an inlet valve 7, through which the charges of gas are admitted to such chamber, and an exhaust valve 8, provided with the valve-stem 9. Through the latter valve the results of the combustion of the gases are permitted to ass into the exhaust chamber 10, through w 'ch they are expelled from the engine. Attached to the casing 2 is a carbureter 11, provided with an air passage 12, communicating with the explosion chamber 6. Beneath the passage 12 is a gasolene supply chamber 13, into which the gasolene is forced through the pipe 14. In the chamber13 is a partition 15, over which the surplus gasolene passes, and through a pipe 16 to the reservoir from which it was supplied. Connecting the chamber 15 and an passage 12 is a small opening 17,, adapted to be closed by a needle-valve 18, vertically movable in the chamber 15. Above the opening 17 is supported a set-screw 19, provided with a needle-point 20, by means of which the passage of gasolene through such opening may be regulated. Fulcrumed on the casing of the cylinder, as at a, is a lever 21, hingeably attached to which isa valve-rod 22, having at its upper end a head 23, in which the lower end of the valve-stem 9 is loosely engaged. Projecting from the head 23 is a plate 24. A lever 25 is fulcrumed as at b, and engages at its upper end a block 26, slidably mounted on a rod 27, supported from the cylinder 1. Upon the block 26 is fixed a detent 28, which is adapted to engage the plate 24 when the block 26 is moved inwardly on the rod 27. The lower end of the lever 25 is provided with a roller 29, engaged by a collar-30, slidably mounted on the shaft 4, and adapted to be actuated by a balance-wheel governor 31.

'By means of a contractile coiled s ring 32,

attached at one end to the base of t e engine and at the other end to the lever 25, contact of the roller 29 with the inner flange of the collar 30 is maintained, and the detent 28 held normally out of engagement with the plate 24. Fixed on the shaft 4 is a gear pinion 33, actuating a gear-wheel 34,- having rotation on a short shaft 35, supported from the base of the engine. Integral with the wheel 34, so as to rotate therewith, is a collar 36, provided with a cam 37, adapted to engage a roller 38 on the lever .21. At its free end the lever 21 is provided with a perforated head 39, in which is loosely held the lower end of a rod 40, the upper end of which is hingeably connected with the lower endof the needle-valve 18. An extensile coiled spring 41 is interposed between the head 39 and an annular flange 42 on the rod 40, and beneath the head 39 the rod is-provided with a head 43 v The operation of the device is as follows: The chamber 15 'of the carbureter having been provided with a supply of gasolene, a current of air is drawn inwardly through the passage 12, the movement of such air caus ing a portion of the gasolene to pass through the opening 17, and become mixed therewith, forming the explosive charge. After the explosion of the gas in the chamber 6, the cam 37 comes in contact with the roller 38, raising the lever 21 and elevating the rod 22. This operates to open the valve 8, and ermit the escape of' the burned gases.

en the speed of the engine exceeds a desired velocity, the governor 31 operates to move the collar 30 outwardly upon the shaft 4, such movement throwing the lower end of the lever 25 outwardly, and the upper end of such lever inwardly, until the u per edge of the detent 28 is engaged by t e. plate 24.

This occurs when such plate, and the rod 22 to which it is attached, are in an elevated position, the contact of the plate 24 and detent 28 preventing the lowering of such rod, and holding the valve 8 in open position. While such valve is open no further charges will be drawn into the engine, and no more explosions will take place until the action of the governor again moves the collar 30 inwardly, dis-engaging the detent 28 and plate 24. The u' ward movement of the lever 21 also raises t e rod 40, causing the valve 18 to close the opening 17, and prevent all esca e of gasolene through such opening into tlie passage 12. When the lever 21 returns to 1 its former position, the valve 18 is lowered thereby, permitting the carbureting process to continue. By the use of the spring 41 a more flexible action of the lever 21 upon the rod 40 is secured, reducing the force of the 1 valve 18 in its seat.

It is obvious that at all timeswhen the valve8 is open, the opening 17 will be closed, and vice versa. By this means at such times as it is not desired to have a charge of gas supplied to the explosion chamber, it is impossible for any portion of the gasolene to be mixed with the air to producesuch-charge,

the supply of such gasolene being absolutely shutofl'. It is true that while the valve 8 is open the valve 7 is closed, obstructing the movement of the air through the passage 12, but if this alone were relied upon to interrupt the movement of the explosive charges, and no means provided for closing the means of communication between the gasolene chamber and air passage, then the difficulty is encountered of having a portion of the fluid escape into the air passage, whereby the next succeeding charge of gas will possess too large a proportion of the hydro-carbon, and the results of the explosion be imperfect, as has been hereinbefore pointed out. It is to overcome this difliculty that my invention is principally designed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is: v

1. A device of the class named, comprising an explosion chamber, provided with an ex haust-valve; an air passage, communicating with said explosion-chamber; a gasolene chamber, beneathsuch air passage, and provided with an opening into the same; a needle-valve, adapted to close said opening, and provided with a valve-rod; a valve-rod, adapted to open said exhaust-valve; a projecting plate, fixed to said exhaust-valve rod; a detent, suitably mounted on the cylinder of the engine, and adapted to engage the plate on saidrod; means for simultaneously operating said exhaust-valve rod to open said valve and said needle-valve rod to close said valve; and means for actuating said detent to hold said rods in position, as described, while the engine is operating at a certain velocity, and release the same when such velocity has been sufficiently reduced, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. Ina device of the class named, the combination of a reciprocating rod 22 adapted to actuate the exhaust valve of the explosion chamber, and provided with a projecting plate 24; a rod 40, adapted to operate the mechanism for shutting off the supply of gasolene in the carbureter a lever 21, hingeably secured to the rod 22, and flexibly connected with the rod 40; the block 26, slidably mounted beneath the plate 24, and provided with the detent 28; and means for causing said detent to engage the plate 24 to prevent lowering of the rod 22 upon the engine attaining a certain velocity, and releasing the plate 24 upon such velocity being sufficiently reduced, substantially as set forth.

with the plate 24 a needle-valve 18, adapted to close said opening between the gasolene chamber and air passage; a rod 10, engaging the needle-valve 18; a lever 21, suitably mounted on the engine, such lever being hingeably secured to the rod 22 and flexibly connected with the rod 40; a block 26, slidably supported beneath the plate 24, and provided with the detent 28; a lever 25, en-

10 gaging the block 26 at its upper end; means or'actuating the lever 25 to move the block 26 inwardly and cause the 'detent 28 to engage the'plate 24 when the speed of the engine eX- ceeds a certain velocity, and move said block outwardly to release the plate 24 when such speed has been sufiiciently reduced; and means for actuating the lever 21 to simultaneously open said exhaust valve and close said needle-valve, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' LLOYD E. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

SIMON C. JOHNSON, GEORGE H. MILLER. 

